Vented precipitation guarding manhole cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly for use with and extending from an underside of a vented manhole cover assembly. The valve assembly is operable between an open position, to enable gas to exit from the manhole, and a closed position, to prevent the flow of the fluid into the manhole. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a first opening and a second opening and a fluid passage extending between the first and second openings. The valve assembly further includes a drain hole extending through the valve body configured to allow fluid drain therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve member moveable between the open position and the closed position, such that in response to the fluid entering through the first opening, the valve member moves from the open position to the closed position to prevent the flow of the fluid into the manhole, and wherein in response to fluid draining through the drain hole, the valve member moves from the closed position to the open position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/497,690, filed on Oct. 8, 2021, entitled “VENTEDPRECIPITATION GUARDING MANHOLE COVER ASSEMBLY,” which claims the benefitof and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.63/091,772 filed on Oct. 14, 2020, entitled “VENTED PRECIPITATIONGUARDING MANHOLE COVER ASSEMBLY,” the entireties of each areincorporated herein by reference for any and all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to manhole covers for manhole openings thatoverlie sewer systems. More particularly, this disclosure relates tovented precipitation guarding manhole cover assemblies that close amanhole opening in a manhole structure above a sanitary sewer whileventing sewer gas as well as prevent or limit flow of precipitation intoand overflow of storm water from the sewer.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The background description provided herein is solely for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the illustrative embodiments of thedisclosure. Aspects of the background description are neither expresslynor impliedly admitted as prior art against the claimed subject matter.

Sanitary sewers are subterranean tunnels, which transport raw sewagefrom houses and commercial buildings to a treatment or disposalfacility. Sewers may include pipelines, which connect houses andbuildings to one or more levels of larger underground trunk mains.Manholes are periodically-shaped vertical openings which connect thetrunk mains to the ground surface for sewer gas venting and otherpurposes. Manhole covers are plates, which are seated in manholeopenings at the ground surface to close the manholes. The manhole coverscan be selectively unseated from the manhole openings to provide accessto the underlying subterranean sewer structure for cleaning,maintenance, or repair.

Vented precipitation guarding manhole cover assemblies, which close amanhole opening in a manhole structure above a sanitary sewer and ventsewer gas from the sewer as well as prevent or limit flow ofprecipitation into and overflow of storm water from the sewer, may bedesirable for some applications.

SUMMARY

According to a first embodiment, a vented precipitation guarding manholecover assembly is provided. The assembly includes a manhole cover havinga top exterior surface and a bottom interior surface and a vent openingextending through the manhole cover between the top and bottom surfaces.A valve assembly is provided and it is in fluid communication with thevent opening. The valve assembly extends from the bottom interiorsurface; also, the valve assembly is configured to extend from thebottom interior surface at least partially inside a manhole. The valveassembly is operable between an open position, to enable gas to exitfrom the manhole, and a closed position, to prevent a flow of a fluidfrom the top exterior surface into the manhole.

In some embodiments, the valve assembly is formed having a valve bodyhaving a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extendingbetween the top and bottom surfaces. A first opening is formed on thetop surface and a second opening formed on the side surface. A fluidpassageway extending between the first and second openings and wherein,when the valve assembly is in the open position, gases within themanhole enter through the second opening and exit through the firstopening, and, when in the closed position, the fluid is prevented fromentering the manhole through the first opening.

In other embodiments, the valve assembly includes a first passageextending from the first opening and a second passage extending from thesecond opening and angularly intersecting the first passage. In responseto the fluid at least partially filling the first passage, a valvemember moves to the closed position to prevent the fluid from passingthrough the second passage.

In yet other embodiments, the valve member is a ball.

In still other embodiments, wherein the valve assembly is a check valve.

In still another embodiment, the first passage is threaded to threadablysecure the valve body to the manhole cover.

In other embodiments, the top exterior surface further comprises aprotrusion extending from the top exterior surface, the vent openingextending through the protrusion.

In yet another embodiment, the protrusion is removably attachable to themanhole cover.

According to a second aspect, a valve assembly for use with andextending from an underside of a vented manhole cover assembly isprovided. The valve assembly is operable between an open position, toenable gas to exit from the manhole, and a closed position, to preventthe flow of fluid into the manhole. The valve assembly includes a valvebody having a first opening and a second opening and a fluid passageextending between the first and second openings. A valve member isincluded and it is moveable between the open position and the closedposition, such that in response to fluid entering through the firstopening, the valve member moves from the open position to the closedposition to prevent the flow of the fluid into the manhole.

According to one embodiment, the valve body includes a top surface, abottom surface and a side surface extending between the top and bottomsurfaces. A first opening is formed on the top surface and the secondopening formed on the side surface, the fluid passage formed including afirst fluid passage extending from the first opening and a second fluidpassage extending from the second opening, the second fluid passageintersecting the first fluid passage at an angle. When the valveassembly is in the open position, gases within the manhole enter throughthe second opening and exit through the first opening, and, when in theclosed position, the fluid is prevented from entering the manholethrough the first openings.

According to yet another embodiment, the valve body is threadablysecured to the manhole cover.

In still another embodiment, the valve body is welded to the manholecover.

In still another embodiment, the valve member is a check valve.

According to some embodiments, the valve assembly further includes amanhole cover protrusion and a stem extending from the manhole coverprotrusion, the stem sized to fit within and through the vent opening ofthe manhole cover. The stem is configured to attach to the valve bodysuch that when the stem is disposed within the vent opening, the valvebody is aligned with the vent opening and secured to the manhole cover.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of forming avented precipitation guarding manhole cover assembly. The methodincludes forming a vent opening through a manhole cover between top andbottom surfaces of the manhole cover. The method also includes providinga valve assembly, the valve assembly operable between an open position,to enable gas to exit from a manhole and through the manhole cover, anda closed position, to prevent the flow of a fluid from the top surfacethrough the manhole cover into the manhole. The method further includessecuring the valve assembly to the manhole cover such that the valveassembly extends from the bottom surface and into the manhole when themanhole cover is positioned to enclose the manhole.

According to some embodiments, providing the valve assembly includesproviding a valve body including a valve body having a top surface, abottom surface, and a side surface extending between the top and bottomsurfaces, a first opening formed on the top surface and a second openingformed on the side surface, and a fluid passageway extending between thefirst and second openings such that, when the valve assembly is in theopen position, gases within the manhole enter through the first openingand exit through the second opening, and, when in the closed position,the fluid is prevented from entering the manhole through the firstopening.

According to some embodiments, wherein securing the valve assembly tothe manhole cover includes aligning the first opening with the ventopening.

In yet other embodiments, wherein securing the valve assembly to themanhole cover includes threadably securing the valve assembly to themanhole cover.

In still other embodiments, the method further includes providing aprotrusion member and securing the protrusion member to the manholecover such that it extends from the top surface and a vent opening inthe protrusion member is aligned with the vent opening of the manholecover.

In other embodiments, providing the protrusion member includes providinga stem extending from the protrusion member, the stem sized to fitwithin and extend through the manhole cover vent opening, the methodfurther including securing the valve assembly to the stem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the variousembodiments.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exploded view of a vented precipitationguarding manhole cover assembly in which a valve assembly is secured tothe manhole cover.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the vented precipitation guarding manholecover assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top view of the valve assembly of FIGS. 1and 2 taken without the manhole cover.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the valve assembly of FIGS. 1-3 taken alongthe line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the valve between the open andclosed positions.

FIG. 5 a side view of the valve assembly.

FIG. 6 is a section view of another embodiment of the valve assemblyhaving a secondary drain hole.

Like elements are labeled using like numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a vented precipitationguarding manhole cover assembly 10 is illustrated, in which a manholecover assembly 12 is employed to vent sewer gases from a sewer 14 aswell as prevent or limit flow of precipitation into and overflow ofstorm water from the sewer 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 , the manhole cover assembly 12 is configured to be mounted and/orotherwise secured in a manhole 16 having a manhole shoulder 18 formed ina manhole opening 20. In some applications, the manhole 16 may extendinto the ground or a roadway surface 22 and communicates with a sanitarysewer 14 beneath the ground or roadway surface 22. In operation and asdiscussed in more detail below, the manhole cover assembly 12 vents orotherwise discharges the sewer gas such as, for example, hydrogensulfide and mercaptan, from the sewer 14 to the atmosphere. In addition,the manhole cover assembly 12 prevents or substantially limits thequantity of falling precipitation from the atmosphere and/or pooledprecipitation from the ground or roadway surface 22 from entering thesewer 14 through the manhole opening 20. The manhole cover assembly 12may further prevent storm water from rising from the sewer 14,overflowing through the manhole opening 20 and flooding or contaminatingthe ground or roadway surface 22, particularly under heavy precipitationconditions.

Referring specifically to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 , themanhole cover assembly 12 includes a manhole cover 24. The manhole cover24 may include steel, aluminum, carbon fiber composite, inert plastic orother suitable material, or any combination thereof. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , the manhole cover 24 has an interior manhole cover surface 26,which faces the sewer 14, a generally planar exterior manhole coversurface 28, which faces the atmosphere, and an annular manhole coveredge 30, which circumscribes the interior manhole cover surface 26 andthe exterior manhole cover surface 28 and faces the manhole structure 16when the manhole cover 24 is seated on the manhole shoulder 18.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and as described in greaterdetail below, a valve assembly 50 is secured to and/or otherwise abutsthe interior manhole surface 26 to extend at least partially within themanhole 16. In FIGS. 1 and 2 , the valve assembly 50 is secured via aventing assembly 52, which includes a threaded bolt 54 having a stem 55and an interior venting passageway 56 therethrough and optionallyincludes at least one washer 58 disposed between the manhole cover 24and the valve assembly 50. When installed on the manhole cover 24, thevalve assembly 50 extends from the interior manhole surface 26 and atleast partially into the manhole 16 to vent gas buildup in the sewer 14while also preventing fluids such as rainwater that collects on theroadway surface 22 from entering the manhole 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5 , the valve assembly 50 includes a valve body60 having a first or top surface 62, an opposed second or bottom surface64 and a side surface 65 extending between the first and second surfaces62 and 64. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 , the valvebody 60 includes an interior passage 66 formed having a fluid passagewayextending between a first opening 68 and second opening 70 such that, asdescribed in greater detail below, when the valve assembly 50 is in theopen position, gases within the sewer 14 enter the second opening 70 andexit the valve assembly 50 through the top or first opening 68. When thevalve assembly 50 is in the closed position, precipitation or otherfluid buildup on the ground or roadway surface 22 is prevented fromentering the manhole 16 through the manhole opening 20.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4 , the valve assembly 50, and inparticular, the passage 66 includes a first passage 72 extending fromthe first/top opening 68 and a second passage 74 extending from thesecond/bottom opening 70. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 , thefirst and second passages 72 and 74 angularly intersect at apredetermined angle θ such that and as explained in greater detailbelow, in response to precipitation or other fluid at least partiallyfilling the first passage 72, a valve member 76 moves upward in thedirection of arrows 78 and 80 from the first passage 72, while the openposition, and into the second passage 74 to rest in the closed positionthereby preventing or otherwise substantially reducing the flow of fluidfrom passing through second passage 74 and into the sewer 14. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , for example, a diverter member 75is operable to direct the valve member 76 as it moves in the directionof arrow 78 toward the second passage 74. Referring specifically to FIG.4 , the diverter 75 includes a pair of guide pins spaced apart toprevent the valve member 76 from moving too far upward in the firstpassage 72 while at the same time directing the valve member 76 towardthe second passage 74. It should be understood that differentconfigurations of the diverter 75 may exist. For example, only a singleguide pin can be used. Alternatively, the diverter 75 can be moldedintegrally into the valve body 60.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first passage 72 extendsfrom the top surface 62 toward the second or bottom surface 64 and isformed having a sidewall 82 and a bottom wall 85. According to someembodiments, the sidewall 82 near and/or otherwise adjacent the topsurface 62 contains a threaded portion 102 to threadably engage thethreaded bolt 54 to secure the valve body 60 against the interiormanhole surface 26. In FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second passage 74 extendsfrom the sidewall 65 toward the first passage 72 and is formed having asidewall 86 and valve seat 96 to receive the valve member 76 in responseto fluid buildup in the first passage 72. According to embodimentsdisclosed herein, the second passage 74 angularly extends from the firstpassage 72 at an angle θ between about 0 degrees and 90 degrees withrespect to a longitudinal central axis of the first passage 72. Forexample, in some embodiments, the angle θ is about 45 degrees; however,the angle θ can be greater than 45 degrees and other instances, lessthan 45 degrees.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 , the valve member 76 is aball 92 such that when no fluid is inside the first passage 72, the ball92 rests on and is supported by the bottom wall 85, as best illustratedin FIG. 4 , generally designated as Position A. In FIG. 4 , for example,the ball 92 has a diameter less than a diameter of the first passage 72such that when rainwater or other fluid enters the first passage 72through the venting passageway 56, the rainwater flows around andunderneath the ball 92 thereby lifting the ball 92 in the direction ofarrow 78 until the ball 92 contacts a diverter 94, which directs theball 92 in the direction of arrow 90 and at least partially into thesecond passage 74, as illustrated in FIG. 4 as Position B. Inparticular, the ball 92 is formed of a material and/or otherwisedesigned such that the water pressure acting on the ball 92 moves theball 92 in the direction of arrows 78 and 80 until it is seated againsta valve seat 96 formed in the second passage sidewall 86 so that a sealis formed between the ball 92 and the valve seat 96 thereby preventingand/or substantially reducing the flow of fluid through the secondpassage 74. In normal operation, the pressure generated by the rainwaterwithin the first passage 72 acting against the ball 92 is greater thanthe pressure within the sewer 14 acting on the ball 92 in so as toprevent the ball 92 from separating from the valve seat 96 and otherwisereturning from the closed position (i.e., Position B) to the openposition (i.e., Position A).

Referring specifically to FIGS. 4-6 , the first passage 72 includes adrain hole 100 extending through the bottom wall 85. In operation, thedrain hole 100 provides a passage for rainwater to exit the interiorpassage 66 such that, for example, when rainwater drains from the groundor roadway surface 22, any remaining fluid within the interior passage66 slowly exits the drain hole 100. As the fluid level within theinterior passage 66 is reduced, the ball 92 moves in the directionopposite of arrows 78 and 80 until it rests against the bottom wall 85returning to the open position (Position A). When in the open position,any gaseous buildup within the sewer 14 will exit through the interiorpassage 66, through the venting passageway 56 into ambient air.

According to some embodiments, including for example, as illustrated inFIG. 6 , the first passage 72 can optionally include a second drain hole200 extending through the sidewall 65 of the valve body 60. Similar todrain hole 100, in operation the drain hole 200 provides a passage forrainwater to exit the interior passage 66 such that, for example, whenrainwater drains from the ground or roadway surface 22, any remainingfluid within the interior passage 66 slowly exits the drain hole 200.The drain hole 200 acts as a secondary drain that works in addition toand/or in lieu of drain hole 100 in the event that mud, rock and otherdebris blocks the drain 100 thereby preventing fluid to exittherethrough. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 , the opening 200is positioned on the valve body 60, and in particular, through sidewall65, at a height such that as fluid drains through the opening 200,including, for example, when the opening 100 is blocked, the interiorpassage 66 is drained to allow the ball 92 to move toward the bottomwall 85 and in the open position.

It should be understood that any number of drain holes 100 and/or 200may be incorporated. For example, in some embodiments, multiple drainholes 200 may be spaced apart around the circumference or partiallyaround the circumference of the sidewall 65. In other embodiments,multiple drain openings 100 may be formed along the bottom wall 85extending through the valve body 60.

With specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the valve assembly 50 issecured to and otherwise abuts the interior manhole surface 26 via thethreaded bolt 54 securely engaging the corresponding threaded portion102 within the first passage 72. However, it should be understood thatother configurations may be used. For example, in some embodiments, thevalve assembly 50 may be welded to the interior manhole surface 26, maybe secured via an adhesive, secured with one or more bolts and/orbrackets, not illustrated. In other embodiments, the valve assembly 50may be integrally formed with the manhole cover 24. Furthermore, inother embodiments, a plurality of interior passages 66 and valve members76 may extend through the valve body 60. In still other embodiments,instead of a valve member 76 responsive to the varying fluid levelwithin the interior passage 66, the valve member 76 may be actuated inresponse to a signal received from a rain sensor (not illustrated). Forexample, the valve assembly 50 may include a controller (notillustrated) communicatively coupled to a sensor, such as, for example,a rain sensor or other sensor to detect precipitation or other fluids onthe roadway 22. In response to receiving the signal, the controller isoperable to send a signal to position the valve member 76 from the openpositon (Position A) to the closed position (Position B). Likewise, whenthe sensor no longer detects rain or liquids on the roadway 22, thecontroller is operable to send a signal to position the valve member 76from the closed position (Position B) to the open position (Position A).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the threaded bolt 54includes a rounded or dome shaped head portion 104 formed having apex106 and sized to extend outward from the manhole cover exterior surface28. In the event that falling precipitation forms pooled precipitationthat accumulates or pools on the ground or roadway surface 22 and on theexterior manhole cover surface 28, the height above the apex 106 beyondthe plane of the exterior manhole cover surface 28 on the ground orroadway surface 22 limits the quantity of pooled precipitation that canenter the sewer 14 by preventing the pooled precipitation from flowinginto the valve assembly 50 until the depth of the pooled precipitationexceeds the height of the apex 106. Otherwise, the pooled precipitationtends to flow around rather than over the apex 106.

According to some embodiment disclosed herein, a method of forming avented precipitation guarding manhole cover assembly 10 is provided. Themethod includes the step of forming a vent opening 25 through a manholecover 24 that extends between the interior/bottom and exterior/topmanhole surfaces 26 and 28. The method further includes providing avalve assembly 50, the valve assembly 50 being operable between an openposition (Position A in FIG. 4 ), to enable gas to exit from the manhole16 and through the manhole cover 24, and a closed position (Position Bin FIG. 4 ), to prevent the flow of fluid from the exterior or topsurface 28 through the manhole cover 24 into the manhole 16. The methodalso includes securing the valve assembly 50 to the manhole cover 24such that the valve assembly 50 extends from the bottom or interiorsurface 26 and into the manhole 16 when the manhole cover 24 ispositioned to enclose the manhole 16.

In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specificterminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, thedisclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms soselected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includesother technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar technical purpose.

In the specification and claims, the word “comprising” is to beunderstood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”,and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of“consisting only of”. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to thecorresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where theyappear.

In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of theinvention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changescan be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and notrestrictive.

Furthermore, invention(s) have described in connection with what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the invention(s), as defined solely by the appended claims.Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented inconjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment maybe combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet otherembodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any givenassembly may constitute an additional embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve assembly for use with and extending froman underside of a vented manhole cover assembly, the valve assemblyoperable between an open position, to enable gas to exit from themanhole, and a closed position, to prevent the flow of the fluid intothe manhole, the valve assembly, comprising: a valve body having a firstopening and a second opening and a fluid passage extending between thefirst and second openings; a drain hole extending through the valve bodyconfigured to allow fluid drain therethrough; and a valve membermoveable between the open position and the closed position, such that inresponse to the fluid entering through the first opening, the valvemember moves from the open position to the closed position to preventthe flow of the fluid into the manhole, and wherein in response to fluiddraining through the drain hole, the valve member moves from the closedposition to the open position.
 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising: the valve body having a top surface, a bottom surface and aside surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces; the firstopening formed on the top surface and the second opening formed on theside surface; the fluid passage formed including a first fluid passageextending from the first opening and a second fluid passage extendingfrom the second opening, the second fluid passage intersecting the firstfluid passage at an angle; and wherein when the valve assembly is in theopen position, gases within the manhole enter through the second openingand exit through the first opening, and when in the closed position, thefluid is prevented from entering the manhole through the first opening.3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body is threadablysecured to the manhole cover.
 4. The valve assembly of claim 1, whereinthe valve body is welded to the manhole cover.
 5. The valve assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the valve member is a check valve.
 6. The valveassembly of claim 1, further comprising a manhole cover protrusion and astem extending from the manhole cover protrusion, the stem sized to fitwithin and through the vent opening of the manhole cover and wherein thestem is configured to attach to the valve body such that when the stemis disposed within the vent opening, the valve body is aligned with thevent opening and secured to the manhole cover.
 7. The valve assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the drain hole extends through the bottom surface toenable fluid to drain from the fluid passage.
 8. The valve assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the drain hole extends through the side surface toenable fluid to drain from the fluid passage.